Global Scans · UK · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Achieving Brexit will dominate the UK's agenda up to and beyond 2020 with uncertainty rife until clear decisions are made on the form of Great Britain's future relationship with the EU and the rest of the world.

• [New] The UK Government has announced plans for a first-of-its-kind Energy Resilience Strategy, designed to protect critical energy infrastructure and shield consumers and businesses from costly disruptions. Public Sector Executive
• [New] The UK could become an AI superpower, whilst reports suggest that OpenAI, Microsoft and Google are all expanding their UK presence. Verdict
• [New] Several sites will make up a new AI Growth Zone in South Wales - dedicated areas of AI development - stretching along the M4 corridor from Newport to Bridgend and has the potential to harness over 1 GW by early 2030s. GOV.UK
• [New] New AI ambassadors will help maximise the benefits of AI for Britain. GOV.UK
• [New] To ensure British businesses and researchers stay at the forefront of AI, new plans will back firms and scientists with the right tools to succeed and to seize the opportunity for British workers and growth. GOV.UK
• [New] The UK budget is unlikely to have a major impact on the direction of global markets, but the strong performance of recent months and the impact of the AI boom could well shape the direction of travel from here. Armstrong Watson
• [New] With the right strategy, education and measures in place, and good coordination between government, regulators and industry, we can unlock the full potential of UK household savings, drive economic growth and build a more resilient society. thecityuk
• [New] The UK will focus on ensuring the extraction of critical minerals works for the benefit of resource-rich countries, particularly in emerging markets and developing economies. GOV.UK
• [New] Producing more critical minerals domestically to high Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards will become increasingly vital to meet UK demand, in a world of shifting geopolitics and potential for supply chain disruptions. GOV.UK
• [New] As announced in the Industrial Strategy, a new £4 billion initiative, British Business Bank Industrial Strategy Growth Capital, will be invested through the BBB's existing capabilities across the 8 growth-driving sectors. GOV.UK
• [New] Following the 2025 Spending Review, the Department for Business and Trade will provide funding support of £50 million for critical mineral projects in the UK, as part of the wider innovation landscape. GOV.UK
• [New] The UK Government has announced the creation of AI Growth Zones, the first of which will be in Culham, Oxfordshire, a site that benefits from a major powerline connection that was previously used for an experimental nuclear reactor (now being decommissioned). Travers Smith
• [New] With AI turbo-charging demand, strong Government support and the recent announcement of £38 billion in investment by the likes of Google, Microsoft, Nvidia and Blackrock, there's little doubt that data centers represent a major opportunity for investors in and operators of UK infrastructure. Travers Smith
• [New] The Bank of England has held interest rates steady at 4%, balancing inflation risks with slowing growth. M-Wealth
• [New] The UK October CPI will be in focus, particularly after the Bank of England voted to hold interest rates steady by just a one-vote margin this month. BlackRock
• [New] The UK will see warmer weather this week as the cold snap, which brought temperatures as low as minus 11 C comes to an end. Yahoo News UK
• [New] Great British Railways will deliver value for money through bringing rail tickets into the 21st century with tap in tap out and digital ticketing, alongside investing in superfast WiFi. GOV.UK
• [New] Carmakers must, under Britain's ZEV mandate, ensure one in three cars sold in 2026 are zero-emission, rising to 80% by 2030 (with hybrids allowed to make up the remaining 20%). The Guardian
• [New] The British government says it will launch the largest overhaul of asylum seeker policy in modern times, drawing inspiration from Denmark's approach, which is one of the toughest in Europe. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] Britain plans to carry out the most significant reform of its asylum policy in modern times by making refugee status temporary and quadrupling the wait for permanent settlement to 20 years, as the Labour government confronts a broken asylum system that has fueled support for right-wing parties. CNN

Last updated: 25 November 2025